Huskies begin competition in Olympics in Beijing
Aug. 11, 2008
Boston, MA

Former Northeastern University rowers Dan Walsh, who rowed for NU from 1998-2001, and Marshall Godschalk, who rowed for NU from 2004-07, have begun competition in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Walsh is rowing for the United States and Godschalk is rowing for the Netherlands. Zara Northover, who competed on the track & field team from 2002-07, will compete in the shot put for Jamaica beginning on Aug. 16.

The first Husky to compete was Godschalk in the heats of the lightweight four without coxswain on Sunday. The Netherlands four placed fourth in the first heat, which was won by China in 5:51.30. Great Britain was second (5:52.38), Australia third (5:55.18), the Netherlands fourth (5:57.54) and Egypt fifth (6:11.71). Denmark and Germany won the other heats.

Godschalk is rowing in a very experienced boat with 2004 Olympians Gerard van der Linden and Ivo Snijders along with Paul Drewes, who rowed in the 2007 World Championship. At Northeastern Godschalk rowed three years in the varsity boat. In 2006 he helped his crew come in seventh at the IRA Regatta and fourth in the Eastern Sprints. He has been competing in international competition for the Netherlands since 2005.

Walsh rowed in the U.S. heavyweight eight boat that placed second in its heat on Monday. Great Britain won the heat in 5:25.89 and the U.S. came in next at 5:29.60. China was third and Germany was fourth. Canada won the other heat. The United States is defending its gold medal from the 2004 Olympics and is among the favorites again. Walsh was an alternate for the Olympics in 2004.

Walsh is an eight-year member of the U.S. Senior National team. In 2006 he won the bronze medal in the World Championship and finished fourth in '07 in the men's eight. In the 2007 U.S. Rowing National Championship, Walsh won gold medals in both the eights and fours. At Northeastern, Walsh received the Parker Award for outstanding freshman in 1998 and was named Outstanding Varsity Oarsman in '99. At Northeastern, Walsh helped his crew finish sixth at the IRA Regatta and third at the Eastern Sprints in 2001.

Northover is making her first appearance at the Olympics. Track & field competition begins on Friday, Aug. 15 and the women's shot put is the next day. Northover qualified for the Olympics on June 8, when she won the Island Games in Uniondale, N.Y., with a personal-best throw of 17.56 meters (57'7.25). That throw surpassed the Olympic "B" standard of 17.20 meters (56'5). She was officially selected to represent Jamaica in Beijing by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association on July 8.

At Northeastern, Northover went undefeated in the shot put at the conference level, winning four America East Championships (two indoor and two outdoor) and two outdoor CAA Championships. Northover also won the shot put at the New England Championship and ECAC Championship four times each. In the summer after Northover graduated from Northeastern in 2007, she won the shot put at the Jamaican National Championship and placed ninth at the Pan American Games.

Links:
• Olympic rowing
• Olympic track & field
• Zara Northover's web site